Waterfall Canyon Trail

Phoenix, Arizona

The hidden, ephemeral waterfall at the end of Waterfall Canyon Trail is both a treat and a tease to desert dwellers. Drawn in by the promise of water in an otherwise sizzling clime, hikers and dogs alike enjoy Waterfall Canyon’s frequent shady spots thanks to gargantuan, lichen-clad boulders and desert trees. The trail’s end is the real reward for your dog, though: sheer cliffs cast welcome shadows on three sides of this natural grotto.
Enough water for your dog to cool her pads is commonly found at the bottom of the 80-foot-high waterfall even weeks after the rains have left the Sonoran Desert behind. The hum and flutter of native bees and tarantula hawks add to the pleasant ambiance of this desert oasis. Once your dog is leashed and watered—pack in plenty for both of you since the waterfall flows heavily only after a hard rain—you are ready to set out on this short but scenic Sonoran Desert hike.

The hidden, ephemeral waterfall at the end of Waterfall Canyon Trail is both a treat and a tease to desert dwellers. Drawn in by the promise of water in an otherwise sizzling clime, hikers and dogs alike enjoy Waterfall Canyon’s frequent shady spots thanks to gargantuan, lichen-clad boulders and desert trees. The trail’s end is the real reward for your dog, though: sheer cliffs cast welcome shadows on three sides of this natural grotto.

Enough water for your dog to cool her pads is commonly found at the bottom of the 80-foot-high waterfall even weeks after the rains have left the Sonoran Desert behind. The hum and flutter of native bees and tarantula hawks add to the pleasant ambiance of this desert oasis. Once your dog is leashed and watered—pack in plenty for both of you since the waterfall flows heavily only after a hard rain—you are ready to set out on this short but scenic Sonoran Desert hike.